Once tucked away in quiet corners of rural life, opium has grown into a central fact of existence in Iran—traded openly, consumed quietly and relied upon by millions looking to salve social and economic anxiety.
In voice messages and phone calls to Iran International, Iranians from cities and provinces across the country said they believed the usually vigilant state turns a blind idea to the blight.
“The regime uses it to suppress voices,” said Hamid from Siahkal. “They instantly arrest women for not wearing the hijab. You think they can’t stop opium? Of course they can. But they don’t want to.”
Former health minister sparks outrage
The latest public reckoning began when a video of former Health Minister Dr. Reza Malekzadeh circulated widely online last month. “The highest opium consumption in Iran is in Rafsanjan in Kerman province; 27% of the people in this city use opium. Golestan ranks next with 18%,” he said.
The backlash from residents of Rafsanjan was swift, prompting Malekzadeh to release a second video. This time, he broadened the scope: “More than 45% of the world’s opium production is consumed in Iran, and about 10% of the population over the age of 40 uses opium either recreationally or due to addiction.”
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Iran consumes approximately 450 metric tons of opium annually—about 42% of the global total.
While statistics vary, all indicators point to an addiction crisis of unprecedented scale driven by proximity to Afghan production, weak deterrent policies and systemic neglect.
From local habit to national structure
Sociologist Saeed Peyvandi said Iran’s addiction crisis deepened after the 1979 revolution, when the state embraced violent crackdowns instead of treatment.
“After the Islamic Revolution it expanded so much and we are dealing with a very vast social phenomenon,” he told Iran International. “Before the revolution it was so geographical … but after, the clerical rulers began a very tough stance to arrest and execute drug dealers … and we witnessed its expansion in contrast.”
“The policies of the Islamic Republic, excluding the human element from the process and putting stigma on addicts led them to become addicted again. The rehabilitation is done very badly and they are humiliated,” he added.
In contrast to Iran’s punitive approach, Peyvandi cited decriminalization and public health strategies in countries like Portugal, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
“The more secret such acts become, the harder it is to treat them,” he said.
‘The system does not want to solve the issue’
For many inside the country, the failure to address addiction is not just incompetence, but deliberate neglect, said Sam from the northwestern city of Anzali.
Despite claims of nationwide surveillance, Sam said drugs move freely. “You say you have (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) IRGC intelligence and the intelligence ministry who watch every single move. So why is this happening?”
“With so much economic strain and social repression, people can't tolerate the pressure anymore,” he added. “There are no pastimes or fun."
Majid from Mashhad offered a simpler explanation. “The simplest reason for vast use of opium in Iran is that there is money in it,” he said.
“Either for those addicted to it, or those who want to quit.”
'A tool of political control'
Hamid from Siahkal near the Caspian Sea likened Iran to a mental asylum. “The only medication to use is opium,” he said. “It's the good stuff, which soothes the people and makes them sit down and never think of getting back up.”
“(Authorities) clamp down on everything like a piece of cake. Two girls come out without hijabs and they instantly arrest them. You think they can't deal with the opium problem?”
“Unfortunately, we Iranians, when in great pain, take stronger painkillers—and opium is considered a painkiller as well. My body can’t tolerate it, otherwise I would have taken some myself.”
Ehsan from Tehran drew a similar conclusion. “I believe the Islamic Republic is using opium as a preventive,” he said.
“If you go to rehab centers, you will see that it is making guys more addicted because junkies cannot shout and raise their voices against the government.”
“The Revolutionary Guard is the largest narcotics cartel itself … It's not just opium. You can easily find crack and meth inside Iran,” he added.
A society without alternatives
For Toomaj in Rasht in northwest Iran, the problem is not only addiction, but isolation. “All are profiteers—from the ones who bring Methadone to those who sell drugs,” he said. “They are trading using the life of people.”
“In other countries, people find a good feeling in nightclubs, bars. When none of them are available in Iran, people have to make themselves happy with something else.”
In a response to Iran International, the legal team at TAERYUN Law Firm said Korean criminal law clearly applies to the case as the alleged assault occurred on South Korean soil.
“Korean criminal law applies to offenses committed within Korea, regardless of nationality or whether the crime occurred during an international competition,” the law firm said.
“No international sports event, diplomatic immunity, or any kind of honor can overshadow the pain of the victim. We will stand by the victim until the end so that she does not suffer alone.”
The suspects—two athletes and one coach from the Iranian delegation—remain in custody after being arrested at a hotel in Gumi on May 31. According to Iranian media, the athletes claimed partial consent; however, authorities rejected that defense and detained all three men.
Grave criminal case, not a diplomatic sideshow, law firm says
TAERYUN is pursuing the case under Articles 297 and 298 of South Korea’s Criminal Act (rape and forcible molestation), crimes that can carry penalties of up to life imprisonment. The firm also said that the case may qualify for aggravated charges under special provisions for sexual offenses.
“This is not a simple legal dispute but a fight to protect the victim’s life,” TAERYUN said. “We will resolutely oppose any external pressure or attempts at settlement.”
The law firm stressed that the victim is suffering from severe psychological trauma, and efforts are underway to protect her identity and mental well-being under Article 30 of the law concerning sexual crimes.
“The victim’s wishes must be fully respected and her protection must be the top priority,” TAERYUN added, warning against any attempt to repatriate the suspects.
Pressure builds in Iran
The case has generated a firestorm of controversy in Iran, where public protests and growing scrutiny of Iran’s sports leadership are prompting officials to distance themselves from the accused and call for resignations.
Earlier in the month, Ahmad Rastineh, spokesman for the Iranian parliament’s Cultural Committee, confirmed that the Minister of Sport, Ahmad Donyamali, had been summoned to explain the incident.
“It was decided that an urgent report on the incident and the violations that occurred be submitted to the Cultural Committee,” Rastineh said.
He added that preliminary investigations revealed mismanagement by team supervisors and that disciplinary action would include suspending the head of the delegation’s security, as well as the team’s head coach and supervisor, until the case is resolved.
Meanwhile, Rouhollah Lak-Aliabadi, spokesman for the Parliament’s Sports Faction, told protesters gathered outside the Iranian parliament that key officials must resign in the wake of the scandal.
“Those responsible must be held accountable. They must resign,” Lak-Aliabadi said in a widely shared video, responding to family members of Iranian athletes demanding the dismissal of senior sports officials.
He criticized public remarks downplaying the seriousness of the incident and rebuked former national football coach Mohammad Mayelikohan’s comment that “this happens in other countries too,” saying: “It may be ordinary elsewhere, but it is not normal for Iran, and we will take this very seriously.”
Allegations against federation president resurface
The scandal has reignited long-standing accusations against Ehsan Haddadi, president of Iran’s Athletics Federation. Haddadi, a former Olympic medalist, has faced past allegations, including an unresolved claim of sexual assault.
Protesters outside the parliament accused Hadadi of failing to oversee athlete conduct and accused him of traveling with personal guests while delegating responsibility.
One woman at the demonstration told lawmakers:“I have a young daughter. Yet a bachelor who has an open sexual assault case, was made a federation director. On his first trip with the national team, he abandoned athletes and brought a personal guest.”
Multiple rallies have been held by members of Iran’s track and field community, with thousands signing petitions calling for Haddadi’s removal, citing both the latest incident and past misconduct allegations.